Psalm 31
- To David himself, understanding. Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
- Blessed is the man to whom the Lord hath not imputed sin, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
- Because I was silent my bones grew old; whilst I cried out all the day long.
- For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: I am turned in my anguish, whilst the thorn is fastened.
- I have acknowledged my sin to thee, and my injustice I have not concealed. I said I will confess against myself my injustice to the Lord: and thou hast forgiven the wickedness of my sin.
- For this shall every one that is holy pray to thee in a seasonable time. And yet in a flood of many waters, they shall not come nigh unto him.
- Thou art my refuge from the trouble which hath encompassed me: my joy, deliver me from them that surround me.
- I will give thee understanding, and I will instruct thee in this way, in which thou shalt go: I will fix my eyes upon thee.
- Do not become like the horse and the mule, who have no understanding. With bit and bridle bind fast their jaws, who come not near unto thee.
- Many are the scourges of the sinner, but mercy shall encompass him that hopeth in the Lord.
- Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye just, and glory, all ye right of heart.
This is the story of Richard Phillips, a man who was locked up for 40 years for a crime he didn’t commit. 40 years of his life, gone. 40 years of penance for a crime he didn’t commit. Remember him when you are going through hard times. Through it he kept the most important thing, his devotion to God. He was within his right to be angry at God, but he wasn’t.
And after the 40 years, he received some absolution here on Earth. We can’t always hope for that, but having repented to God, we have absolution in Heaven, and that’s what matters.
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